RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the molecular characteristics of hantaviruses isolated from Shandong province by using PCR typing and nucleotide sequencing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Total cellular RNA was extracted from hantaviruses infected Vero E6 cells, viral cDNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. PCR products of partial M Segments of 4 strains of hantaviruses were sequenced. Cross neutralization tests were performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four strains of hantavirus isolated from Rottus in Shandong province were SEO like viruses. The homology between Shandong isolates and other SEO like viruses was high at both amino acid and nucleotide levels. The homology among those 4 strains of hantaviruses was 98%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The SEO like hantaviruses were more conserved than other hantaviruses. The homology of SEO like hantaviruses isolated from Shandong province was as high as 98% at nucleotides level, though they were isolated at more than 10-year intervals.</p>